THE ISLAND OF CHARON
a novel in the series
"PLAYING ANOTHER REALITY"
CHAPTER 10. DEATH, the 2nd
10.3. PARADISE FOR DARK SOULS
We passed through the village and the market, went out onto the main road and turned right.
“Where are we going?” Mark asked.
“Just walking…” I answered.
We reached the Cave of Magicians. As usual, on the platform near the entrance I saw the fires burning and the dark spirits dancing in a stream of spells.
Suddenly…
“No! My God!” I burst out involuntarily and stopped.
One of the dancers, a pale-faced man, obviously not a local aborigine, seemed to be embarrassed at meeting my gaze. The man immediately turned his back to me, without interrupting the dance.
I asked Mark to wait for me and came up closer to the participants of the ritual.
“Alex!” I called out.
The man shuddered, but didn’t turn around, continuing to dance, completely out of the drumbeat.
I walked over to him and took his hand. The man reluctantly stopped, turned to me and immediately looked away.
“Hello, Alex! Don’t you recognize me?” I asked in surprise.
He was that my compatriot, with whom, by chance, I had happened to be on Camotes many years ago, back in earthly reality.
“Hello,” he breathed heavily.
“How long have you believed in magic?!” I asked.
“Nobody leaves Earth as atheist! As soon as…” Alex growled. “Listen, I didn’t know that there would be YOU! Honestly, I didn’t! They just sent me out on a mission! Could I refuse?”
“Wait, what are you talking about?” I asked incomprehensibly.
“Just don’t play the Saint! If they let me kill you, then there was a reason for it!”
“WHAT’S?!” I recoiled, unable to believe my ears.
“That’s what you heard! Yes! It was me who murdered you!!! Me, not Mark! But I want to live! To LIVE, you know? What did I have in my earthly life? And you, what? Nothing good! Hell is on the Earth, Alice! And here is the real Paradise! No? Am I wrong? Even the Paradise Tree is growing there, by the pier. Just with lanterns instead of apples. Why are you looking at me like that, being silent? There is nothing to argue about! Yes, I gave you a ticket to Paradise ahead of schedule, you fool! Just pay sometimes for blood with milk! I bet you have already tasted it yourself, haven’t you?!”
I sighed, but then…
...smiled sadly.
“I don’t wish you any harm, Alex. You are right. It was necessary for some reason. Goodbye…”